[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 130 (Monday, July 8, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45069-45070]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-16898]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 011218304-1304-01; I.D. 070102A]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific cod
by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in Bycatch Limitation Zone 1 of the Bering
Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is closing directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels
using trawl gear in Bycatch Limitation Zone 1 (Zone 1) of the Bering
Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is
necessary to prevent exceeding the 2002 bycatch allowance of red king
crab specified for the trawl Pacific cod fishery category in Zone 1.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 1, 2002,
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2002.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan
for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area
(FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management
Act. Regulations governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with
the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
The 2002 red king crab bycatch allowance specified for Zone 1 of
the BSAI trawl Pacific cod fishery category, which is defined at
Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv)(E), is 11,664 animals (67 FR 956, January 8, 2002
and 67 FR 34860, May 16, 2002).
In accordance with Sec. 679.21(e)(7)(ii), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has
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determined that the 2002 bycatch allowance of red king crab specified
for the trawl Pacific cod fishery in Zone 1 of the BSAI has been
reached. Consequently, the Regional Administrator is closing directed
fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using trawl gear in Zone 1 of the
BSAI.
Maximum retainable bycatch amounts may be found in the regulations
at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f).
Classification
This action responds to the best available information recently
obtained from the fishery. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
NOAA, finds that the need to immediately implement this action to avoid
exceeding the 2002 bycatch allowance of red king crab specified for the
trawl Pacific cod fishery in Zone 1 constitutes good cause to waive the
requirement to provide prior notice and opportunity for public comment
pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B). These
procedures are unnecessary and contrary to the public interest because
the need to implement these measures in a timely fashion to avoid
exceeding the 2002 bycatch allowance of red king crab specified for the
trawl Pacific cod fishery in Zone 1 constitutes good cause to find that
the effective date of this action cannot be delayed for 30 days.
Accordingly, under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), a delay in the effective date is
hereby waived.
This action is required by 50 CFR 679.21 and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: July 1, 2002.
Virginia M. Fay
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-16898 Filed 7-1-02; 4:46 pm]
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